Post on 04-Feb-2018
Ivy Global READING 227
SAT VOCABULARY PART 2
The new SAT’s Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Test assesses your knowledge of
college-level vocabulary—the kinds of words that you will need to know in order to
understand academic writing about many different subjects. The vocabulary tested on the
new SAT includes words that you are likely to see and use frequently in college courses, as
well as words that have different meanings in different contexts.
Building your college-level vocabulary now will not only help you increase your score on
the SAT, but also help you in your future studies. In this part, we’ve included a list of 250
college-level words, as well as lists of common word parts to help you learn new vocabulary.
WORD ROOTS, PREFIXES, AND SUFFIXES
Many words can be broken into basic parts. Roots carry the basic meaning of a word,
prefixes come before roots and alter their meaning, and suffixes come after roots and alter
either their meaning or their part of speech. Because English is related to French, German,
Spanish, Latin, and Greek, many of these word parts will look familiar if you speak one of
those languages.
The lists below contain some of the most common roots, prefixes, and suffixes that make
up English words. Start learning these basic parts to help you break down unfamiliar
vocabulary and speed up your vocabulary building process for the SAT.
Common Roots
ag, act do action, activity, agent
ambul walk, move ambulance, ambulatory, amble
ami, amo love amiable, amorous
anim mind, soul,
spirit animal, animate, unanimous
anthro human anthropology, philanthropy
aud, audit hear audible, auditorium, audience
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auto self automobile, autobiography, autograph
belli war belligerent, rebellious, bellicose
ben good benefactor, beneficial, benevolence
biblio book bibliography, Bible
bio life biography, biology
carn flesh, meat carnivore, carnal, incarnate
chron time chronic, chronology, synchronize
cid, cis cut, kill incision, homicide, insecticide
civi citizen civilization, civilian, civil
corp body corporation, corporeal, corpse
dem people democracy, demographic
dic, dict speak dictate, contradict, prediction, verdict
domin master dominant, domain, domineering
err wander error, erratic, errand
eu good,
beautiful eulogize, euphoria, euphemism
fall, fals deceive fallacious, infallible, falsify
fid faith fidelity, confide, confidence
graph, gram writing grammar, telegram, graphite
loqu, locut talk soliloquy, loquacious, elocution
luc light elucidate, lucid, translucent
magn great magnify, magnate, magnanimous
mal bad malevolent, malediction, malicious
mori, mort die mortuary, immortal, moribund
morph shape, form amorphous, metamorphosis
nat born innate, natal, nativity
nom name misnomer, nominal
nov new novice, innovate, renovate, novelty
omni all omniscient, omnipotent, omnivorous
pac, pas,
pax peace pacify, pacific, pacifist, passive
path, pass disease,
feeling pathology, sympathetic, apathy, antipathy
phil love philanthropist, philosophy, philanderer
port carry portable, porter, transport, export
poten able,
powerful potential, omnipotent, potentate, impotent
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psych mind psyche, psychology, psychosis, psychopath
reg, rect rule regicide, regime, regent, insurrection
sacr, secr holy sacred, sacrilegious, sacrament, consecrate
scribe,
script write scribe, describe, script
somn sleep insomnia, somnolent, somnambulist
spec, spic see, look spectators, spectacles, retrospect, conspicuous
tang, tact,
ting touch tactile, tangent, contact, contingent
terr land terrain, terrestrial, subterranean
urb city urban, urbane, suburban
vac empty vacation, vacuous, evacuate, vacant
ver truth veracity, verify, veracious
verb word verbose, verbatim, proverb
viv, vit alive revival, vivacious, vitality
Common Prefixes
ambi, amphi both ambidextrous, ambiguous, ambivalent
an, a without anarchy, anemia, amoral
anti against antibody, antipathy, antisocial
circum around circumnavigate, circumspect, circumscribe
co, col, com,
con
with, together coauthor, collaborate, composition, commerce
contra, contro against contradict, contravene, controversy
di, dif, dis not, apart digress, discord, differ, disparity
dia through, across diagonal, diameter, dialogue
dys abnormal, bad dysfunction, dyslexia, dystopia
e, ex, extra,
extro
out, beyond expel, excavate, eject, extrovert
in, il, im, ir (1) not inefficient, inarticulate, illegible, irrepressible
in, il, im, ir (2) in, upon invite, incite, impression, illuminate
inter between, among intervene, international, interjection, intercept
intra within intramural, introvert, intravenous
mis bad, hatred misdemeanor, mischance, misanthrope
mono one monarchy, monologue, monotheism
pan all, every panacea, panorama, pandemic
peri around, near perimeter, periphery, periscope
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poly many polygon, polygamist, polyglot
post after postpone, posterity, postscript, posthumous
pre before preamble, prefix, premonition, prediction
pro forward, for,
before
propulsive, proponent, prologue, prophet
re, retro again, back reiterate, reimburse, react, retrogress
sub, suc, sup,
sus
under, less subway, subjugate, suppress
super, sur over, above superior, supernatural, supervise, surtax
syn, sym, syl ,
sys
with, together symmetry, synchronize, synthesize, sympathize
trans across transfer, transport, transpose
un not unabridged, unkempt, unwitting
Common Suffixes
able, ible ADJ: capable of edible, presentable, legible
ac, ic, ical ADJ: like, related cardiac, mythic, dramatic, musical
acious, icious ADJ: full of malicious, audacious
ant, ent ADJ/N: full of eloquent, verdant
ate V: make, become consecrate, enervate, eradicate
en V: make, become awaken, strengthen, soften
er (1) ADJ: more bigger, wiser, happier
er (2) N: a person who does teacher, baker, announcer
cy, ty, ity N: state of being democracy, accuracy, veracity
ful ADJ: full of respectful, cheerful, wonderful
fy V: to make magnify, petrify, beautify
ism N: doctrine, belief monotheism, fanaticism, egotism
ist N: dealer, doer fascist, realist, artist
ize, ise V: make victimize, rationalize, harmonize
logy N: study of biology, geology, neurology
oid ADJ: resembling ovoid, anthropoid, spheroid
ose, ous ADJ: full of verbose, lachrymose, nauseous, gaseous
osis N: condition psychosis, neurosis, hypnosis
tion, sion N: state of being exasperation, irritation, transition,
concession
tude N: state of fortitude, beatitude, certitude
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VOCABULARY LIST
The vocabulary list below contains 250 words at the same difficulty level and of content
areas that are most likely to appear on the SAT. Work your way through this list, using
flashcards to learn words you don’t know and looking up words that you’re not sure how to
use. To help you remember their meanings, see if you can break down any of these words
into parts using the roots, prefixes, and suffixes charts above.
# Word Definition
1 accede 1. give in, agree to 2. take office
2 acclaim praise
3 acquiesce give in
4 affable (related: affability) friendly
5 affected 1. influenced by something 2. artificial, trying to
impress
6 affluent wealthy
7 ailment illness
8 ambivalence (related:
ambivalent) mixed feelings
9 amenable 1. cooperative, easily persuaded 2. receptive,
responsive
10 animosity hostility
11 anomalous (related:
anomaly) not normal, unusual
12 antecedent what came before
13 antithesis opposite
14 apathetic (related: apathy) lacking interest
15 apparatus device, equipment
16 arbitrary random
17 archaic old or old-fashioned
18 assail attack
19 assuage 1. relieve, soothe 2. satisfy
20 atrophy waste away
21 atypical not normal
22 augment enlarge, increase
23 auspicious favorable, promising
24 aversion dislike
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25 banal not original, common, boring
26 benevolent generous
27 bog marsh, swamp
28 buoyant 1. cheerful 2. floating 3. very active (in an economic
context)
29 buttress support
30 byzantine excessively complex
31 cajole persuade
32 callous cruelly insensitive
33 capacity ability
34 catalyst something that triggers an event
35 caustic 1. bitter and sarcastic 2. acidic
36 cerebral intellectual
37 charismatic charming
38 circumscribe restrict, limit
39 circumvent overcome an obstacle
40 cite 1. quote as evidence 2. mention as an example
41 combustible able to catch fire easily
42 compatible 1. able to co-exist peacefully, well-suited 2. consistent
43 compile assemble, collect
44 comply go along with rules
45 comprehensive thorough
46 conducive favorable to, likely to bring about a certain outcome
47 congenial pleasant
48 conscientious careful, hardworking
49 constraint restriction, limitation
50 consummate 1. (verb) complete, make perfect 2. (adjective) highly
skilled, perfect
51 contemporary 1. living or occurring at the same time 2. occurring in
the present
52 contemptuous (related:
contempt) scornful, disrespectful
53 contingency 1. possibility 2. unforeseen event
54 convoluted complicated, twisted
55 criterion standard by which things are judged or measured
56 cursory quick, hurried, not thorough
57 deficit lack, shortage
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58 definitive absolute, authoritative
59 demure (related: demurral) overly modest, shy
60 denounce declare to be wrong, criticize
61 depose 1. remove from power 2. testify or give evidence (in a
legal context)
62 deprecate (related:
deprecating) disapprove of, criticize
63 derivative not original
64 derogatory (related:
derogate) insulting, disrespecting
65 destitute poor
66 deter prevent, discourage
67 detrimental damaging, harmful
68 devoid lacking
69 diligent (related:
diligence) hardworking
70 diplomatic 1. having to do with foreign relations 2. tactful,
sensitive, polite
71 dire urgent, dreadful
72 discount (verb) 1. reduce in price 2. ignore, disregard
73 discourse discussion
74 discredit harm someone’s reputation
75 discrepancy difference, mismatch
76 discriminating selective, having refined taste
77 disseminate scatter or spread widely
78 domestic relating to the home or the home country
79 dominant most important or powerful
80 dormant not active
81 eclectic from a variety of sources
82 efface (related:
effacement) erase
83 effervesce (related:
effervescent) bubble, fizz
84 eloquence (related:
eloquent) flowing and persuasive speech or writing
85 elude escape from, avoid
86 embitter (related:
embittered) cause someone to feel bitter
87 empirical based on observation and experimentation
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88 encompass include, surround
89 endorse approve, support
90 enigma (related:
enigmatic) mystery
91 equanimity calmness
92 equitable fair, even-handed
93 erroneous incorrect
94 evince show clearly
95 exacting demanding, having severe requirements
96 exasperate annoy
97 excise remove
98 explicit fully expressed, leaving nothing implied
99 exploit 1. (verb) benefit unfairly from something 2. (noun)
bold or heroic deed
100 facile 1. shallow, simplistic 2. effortless
101 facilitate help, make easier
102 faction a small group within a larger group
103 fallacy mistaken belief, faulty reasoning
104 fastidious careful, painstaking
105 fathom 1. (verb) understand 2. a unit of depth, usually
measuring water
106 flag
1. (noun) symbol of a country or institution 2. (verb)
point out, signal, draw attention to 3. (verb) become
tired or weak
107 florid (related: floridity) 1. having a red or flushed face 2. flowery, elaborate
108 folly foolishness
109 furtive sneaky
110 generic general, not specific
111 germinate begin or cause to grow
112 glacial 1. icy, related to glaciers 2. cold, unfriendly 3.
extremely slow
113 gravity seriousness
114 hail 1. (noun) pellets of ice 2. (verb) rain down with force 3.
(verb) signal, greet, call out 4. (verb) praise
115 harbor
1. (noun) safe place or shelter, particularly for boats 2.
(verb) keep or hold in mind 3. (verb) give a home to,
shelter, or hide someone
116 hedonist someone driven by pleasure
117 heresy (related: heretic) belief that goes against the established opinion
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118 hierarchy ranking, classification
119 hospitable welcoming, friendly
120 hypothesis (related:
hypothetical) theory, guess
121 iconoclast (related:
iconoclastic) someone who attacks traditional beliefs
122 ideology system of ideas, way of thinking
123 idiosyncrasy (related:
idiosyncratic ) unique personal trait
124 impeccable perfect, flawless
125 impetuous impulsive, spontaneous
126 impetus motivation
127 incarnate 1. possessing a concrete, material form 2. in the flesh
128 incontrovertible definitive, unable to be denied
129 incorrigible incapable of being corrected or improved
130 incredulous (related:
incredulity ) disbelieving, skeptical
131 indiscriminate unselective, random
132 indisposed 1. ill 2. unwilling
133 induce 1. bring about, cause 2. arrive at a conclusion by logical
reasoning
134 inert (related: inertia) not moving or active
135 inherent innate, inborn, natural
136 inhibit (related: inhibiting) hold back, restrain, prevent
137 innocuous harmless
138 innovate (related:
innovation, innovative) make something new, change, create
139 insidious sneaky, stealthy, treacherous
140 insular 1. related to or similar to an island 2. narrow-minded,
isolated
141 integrity 1. honesty, dignity 2. completeness
142 inundate flood, overwhelm
143 irony (related: ironic) difference between what is expected and what actually
happens
144 laborious involving hard work
145 lofty 1. tall 2. majestic, noble 3. arrogant
146 lucid clear, easily understood
147 lurid sensational, shocking
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148 malign (related:
malignant) 1. (adjective) evil 2. (verb) criticize, speak ill of
149 mar hurt someone’s appearance
150 meander wander
151 mercenary 1. (adjective) motivated by money 2. (noun) soldier
hired to fight for a foreign country
152 mercurial unpredictable, inconsistent
153 mitigate (related:
mitigation) make less serious, reduce
154 muted quiet, soft
155 myopic 1. nearsighted 2. unimaginative
156 nebulous vague, cloudy
157 nonchalance (related:
nonchalant) lack of concern
158 notorious (related:
notoriety) famous for something bad
159 novelty 1. newness, originality 2. a trinket or toy
160 odoriferous having a strong or unpleasant smell
161 opaque (related: opacity) 1. not transparent 2. hard to understand
162 opportunist (related:
opportunistic)
a person who takes advantage of opportunities, often
unethically
163 orthodox conservative, traditional
164 oversight mistake
165 parochial 1. relating to church 2. narrow-minded, unsophisticated
166 particular (related:
particularity) 1. specific, individual 2. fussy, demanding
167 partisan 1. supporter of a party or a cause 2. someone who is
prejudiced towards a certain cause
168 patronize 1. support financially 2. act superior, look down on
169 peremptory bossy, commanding
170 perennial long-lasting, continual
171 perfidious untrustworthy, disloyal
172 perverse 1. unacceptable, unreasonable 2. unnatural, abnormal
173 pigment substance that gives color
174 plebeian common citizen
175 poignant emotionally touching
176 pragmatic (related:
pragmatism, pragmatist) practical
177 precipitate cause a sudden outcome
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178 precocious having early development in maturity and intelligence
179 prescribe 1. recommend, advise 2. command
180 presumption 1. assumption, guess 2. boldness, disrespect
181 pretense 1. make-believe, fake 2. false claim
182 prevalent widespread
183 proclivity natural tendency
184 procure get or provide
185 profane 1. not sacred or religious 2. showing disrespect for
religion
186 prohibitive (related:
prohibit, prohibition) 1. forbidding or restricting 2. excessively high in price
187 prolific 1. productive, creative, fertile 2. plentiful
188 prospective likely or expected to become
189 quagmire 1. complex, difficult situation 2. bog or swamp
190 qualified 1. competent, able 2. limited
191 quash 1. reject 2. put down, suppress
192 radical extreme
193 recourse the act of turning to someone or something for
assistance
194 rectify (related: rectitude) put right, correct
195 regressive backward-looking, becoming less advanced
196 rejuvenate make young again
197 remission reduction or decrease, particularly of a debt or medical
symptoms
198 remote distant, far
199 renounce reject, abandon
200 repudiate reject entirely, deny
201 repugnant offensive, disgusting
202 resign (related:
resignation, resigned) 1. give in, surrender 2. step down from a position
203 rhetoric (related:
rhetorical, rhetorician) persuasive speech or writing
204 rudimentary 1. basic 2. undeveloped, incomplete
205 sanction 1. (noun) penalty for disobeying a law 2. (verb) punish,
impose a penalty 3. (verb) formally approve
206 sanguine cheerfully confident, optimistic
207 satire (related: satirical,
satirize) sarcastic imitation
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208 saturate soak, make completely full
209 scintillating lively, effervescent
210 scope 1. range 2. opportunity, possibility
211 sensational amazing, shocking, scandalous
212 servile submissive, overly willing to please
213 shopworn worn out, trite
214 simile comparison
215 solicitous (related:
solicitousness) expressing care or concern, often too much
216 sparse lacking, rare
217 spate outbreak of similar events happening one after another
218 spurn reject, turn down
219 stagnant (related:
stagnation) not moving
220 stark (related: starkness) harsh, plain
221 staunch strong, loyal
222 stock (adjective) standard, usual, automatic
223 strain
1. (verb) stress, force, make an excessive effort 2.
(noun) excessive stress, effort, or force 3. (verb)
separate solids from a liquid
224 stupefy amaze
225 subjugate conquer, dominate, control
226 subordinate lower in rank, inferior
227 subservient 1. obedient, yielding 2. less important
228 subtle not obvious
229 supine 1. lying on one's back 2. not resisting
230 susceptible easily influenced or affected
231 sustain 1. strengthen, support 2. maintain, carry on 3.
experience, suffer
232 synthesis combination of elements or ideas
233 tangent (related:
tangential)
1. different or irrelevant line of thought 2. a line that
touches a curve at a point (in math)
234 tempestuous stormy
235 tenacious (related:
tenacity) stubborn, determined
236 thrive grow, develop, prosper
237 transcend go beyond, rise above
238 trite unoriginal, common
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239 unorthodox not traditional
240 unprecedented without any previous example
241 usurp seize power without authority
242 vicarious felt indirectly by imagining someone else's experiences
243 vindicate (related:
vindication) clear someone of blame, prove to be right
244 virulent 1. poisonous 2. bitter, harsh, hostile
245 vitiate spoil, destroy
246 vocation career
247 vulnerable susceptible, exposed
248 wane lessen, become weaker
249 wary cautious
250 wry having a clever or grim sense of humor